Would like a few opinions on stratocaster.

[Sheetmaself]

Hi all, thinking of getting a stratocaster to add to my les paul deluxe, martin ed sheeran and squier affinity telecaster.

Been looking at this http://www.richtonemusic.co.uk/products/fender_200...
But wondering how much extra i am paying for the unique paint job, dont mind paying more just cant work out how much it should be worth as prices on ebay fluctuate wildly.

Other option would be a http://www.richtonemusic.co.uk/products/fender_usa... which seems to be getting good reviews.

Or of course the latter option opens me up to http://m.guitarguitar.co.uk/Product/14081513253916

So I geuss the questions are,

1 how much extra am i paying for the paint job.
2 are either of the other options worth the extra?

The cost, up to the level i am looking at, doesn't bother me as long as it represents value.

Type of music played will be clapton,knopfler type music.

And i am very much a beginner still, but have been playing for a year or so.

Edited by Sheetmaself on Tuesday 9th August 19:53

[Mastodon2]

First link doesn't work. Other than that, the Fender USA Elite and the Suhr will both be great guitars.

Whether or not it's worth buying one is up to how much money you've got to spend. You could get a standard USA Stratocaster and be more than happy with it, if you've only been playing a year I'm not sure you'd notice or fully appreciate the differences, which will be better finish quality on things like frets, nut etc, better pickups etc. A standard USA Strat is a great instrument though and more than enough if you're only looking to play basic Knopfler / Clapton blues rock stuff.

I'd definitely get a USA Strat (or a Japanese model, if you can find one) because your Tele is a Squier and a Strat will knock your Les Paul into a cocked hat in terms of sound and feel. But rather than just go all in for a top end Strat or a bottom end Suhr, get a USA standard and a USA Elite / Suhr and play them side by side. You'll know there and then if the upgrade options are worth the £600 to £800 extra.

[Sheetmaself]

Thanks for that, first link sorted.

[Sheetmaself]

I have use of a japan strat, believe 60's reissue as my dad has one and we swop guitars quite a bit.

Would still like one of my own though, and am enjoying building up a collection.

[lockhart flawse]

eek. They're hideous. Do you want a maple neck or a rosewood neck?

Money much better spent on a SH Strat - Sunburst finish and a rosewood neck IMHO. The white ones are nice too.

But it's your money......

[Sheetmaself]

i assume the hideous comment is on the first one, it definitely is a marmite thing!

Would prefer rosewood purely for looks and the fact that the jap strat is maple but i would need to read up on differences before i bought a new guitar.

[6th Gear]

Can you stretch to a Custom Shop OP? Well worth the extra money IMO.

http://www.coda-music.com/fender-custom-shop-strat...

http://www.coda-music.com/fender-custom-shop-strat...

It will last you forever and will be a joy to play.

The 60s version gets my vote.

[lockhart flawse]

They're lovely but god they're expensive.

I am currently using an old Tokai Silver Star as my SC guitar, black with a rosewood neck which allows a bit more feel I think. They are real bargains and IMO as near as damnit the same as a Jap Strat.

[Sheetmaself]

Tell me about it went to see ray hatfield the other day who was playing about £200 worth of squeir and making it sound better than i could even dream of.

However, seeing as i cant play properly it may as well look nice

[Sheetmaself]

lockhart flawse said:

They're lovely but god they're expensive.

I am currently using an old Tokai Silver Star as my SC guitar, black with a rosewood neck which allows a bit more feel I think. They are real bargains and IMO as near as damnit the same as a Jap Strat.

Whats expensive sorry? All three or the splattercaster (cracking name)?

[6th Gear]

lockhart flawse said:

They're lovely but god they're expensive.

http://www.newkingsroadguitars.co.uk/guitarshop/1963_Strat.html

[audidoody]

Seek out a 1982 or 1983 JV (Japanese Vintage). As good as, if not better than, Fender Custom Shop quality.

These were the instruments that were reportedly made from the original Leo Fender blueprints and the instruments that shocked CBS into realising how stty the US-made Fenders were.

It HAS to be JV (not MIJ - Made in Japan)

Here's chapter and verse

http://planetbotch.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/truth-ab...

and some examples

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/fender-jv

[6th Gear]

The early Japanese JV models are a very good shout.

Excellent guitars.

[Sheetmaself]

Thanks for all the replies, this is the Japanese stratocaster of my dads which i often nick



I believe it is a 60's reissue bought around 1986 no idea if this is the fabled japanese vintage model though.

I wouldnt want another japanese strat as as sad as it may be i will get this someday and i am trying to allow for what my dad has in order to not end up with duplicates (the reason at the moment i am thinking of a rosewood neck for example).

Thinking behind the mexican strat is i really do like the paintwork (my guitars are left out on stands), the us elite seems to be getting rave reviews and the Suhr seems to be the next level before custom shop which are at a price point i am not comfortable at.

[Sheetmaself]

Sorry for the interloper in that photo but its the only one i have.

[Sheetmaself]

6th Gear said:

lockhart flawse said:

They're lovely but god they're expensive.

http://www.newkingsroadguitars.co.uk/guitarshop/1963_Strat.html

Hmmm at least one to many 9's on that for my budget.

[Sheetmaself]

Interesting you say that both of my electric guitars were bought after testing blind. Told them my budget and that i wanted a telecaster/les paul got them to take prices off and just played them. Ended up with an affinity telecaster first time so worked quite well but then a les paul deluxe so maybe should of checked the price a bit more as was initially thinking of an epiphone!

Only issue i have with this method is if i go and try the splattercaster and like it, i still wont know if its a £150 guitar with a £250 paint job.

[Sheetmaself]

Not so much close by but they are who i used for the gibson, and was very impressed with them so would prefer to buy from them again.

[Tom_C76]

Bit late to this one, but if you want to play Clapton stuff, have a look for a Clapton sig Strat, as the wiring is completely different. Master tone with treble boost or cut rather than just cut, plus a 12dB mid boost on the second tone control. Noiseless pickups too.

[Löyly]

That Suhr will be fantastic. Rick Graham used to have a similar model that sounded really nice although he's back playing a lot of Fender Strats these days!

Before you blow a wad of money though, you need to do some proper research and get your hands on a few to try out. They might all look similar but there are subtle differences. You'll kick yourself if you buy in haste and then discover you prefer a reverse wound middle pickup, or a vintage V neck over a C profile, or jumbo fret wire, or a satin neck to a gloss neck etc etc.

You're fortunate in that it's tough to lay hands on a bad Stratocaster now, whereas 15 years ago even some of the American guitars were not up to scratch.

Make sure you try a Classic 50's Series strat along the way. It is, for my money, one of the sweetest sounding Strats I've heard in years and it comes with a great spec at a good price. It has a soft, sparkling sound that I really treasure in a Strat.